Circuit interrupter



Jan, 27, 1925.

w. A. coATEs E1' AL CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER med Nov. 11, 1918 INVENTORS L Will/am /nse/m Caafes L Will/gr Bourne Dale- AT'ToRNEY wlTNEssEsz WJ Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

WILLIAM ANSELM COATES, OF BROOKLA NDS, AND WILLIAM BOUBNE DALE, OF MAN- CHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC ING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

& MANUFACTUR- CIBCUIT INTERRUPTER.

Application filed November 11, 1919. Serial No. 337,194.

To all 'wlwm 'it 'may con/cent:

.Be it known that we, WILHAM ANSELM CoATEs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Brooklands, in

the county of Chester, England, and WIL- LIAM BoURNn DALE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Old Trafi'ord, Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented' a new and useful Improvement in Circuit Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to Operating mechanisms for circuit interrupters in which a loose handle or Operating member may not be held closed when abnormal conditions, such 'as an overload, prevail in the circuit.

The object of our invention is to provide a movable latch member, for a device of the above indicated character, that may be actuated at any position in its path of movement.

Circuit interrupters of the a'bove indicated Character comprise a lever which supports and actuates the movable contact members of the interrupter, aV main operating lever which may be moved manually,

' ac by an electromagnetic device, or otherwise,

when it is desired to close the interrupter,

a latch which connects the Operating lever toa toggle mechanism, or an intermediate lever by which the supporting lever is operated, and a tripping device for actuating lthe latchto disconnect the Operating lever from the toggle meehanism or intermediate lever and thereby permit the supporting lever to move to the open position.

' According to our invention, the operative point of connection of the tripping device with the latch, which connects the operatingn. handle of the int-errupter to its actuating mechanism, is so arranged that, 4,5 under normalconditions, it remains in the same position, relative to the latch, throughout the whole range of movement of the latter, during the closing operation of the interrupter. v

Figure -1, of the accompanying drawings, is a side view, partially in section and partially in` elevation, of an oil-immersed circuit interru ter constructed in accordance with ourmvention; Fig. 2 is' a view,

similar to a portion of Fig. 1, of ai modified lform thereof, and Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig, 2, of a further modified form of interrupter embodying our invention A main 'movable contact member 1 is connected, by means of a Vertical link 2, to a lever 3 pivoted on a stationary pivot pin 4, and is adapted to move into and out of engagement with stationary contact members 5. A solenoid 6 is provided to close the interrupter and a tripping magnet or solenoid 7 is provided to open the same.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lever 3 .is connected, by toggle links 8 and 9, to a stationary pivot pin 10, Jon which is, also, pivoted an Operating lever 11 that is connected, by a link 12, to an armature or plunger (not'shown) of the closing solenoid 6. Suflicient clearance is provided for| the link 12, in the switch casing and in the solenoid to permit the lever 11 to rotate about the pin 10. A latch member 13 is pivoted to a pivot pin which connects the toggle levers 8 and 9 to each other, and a hook 111 is adapted to engage a pin 15 which joins the lever 11 to the link 12.

The tripping magnet 7 is provided with an armature 16 which is biased away from the magnet by a spring 17 and is connected to the latch 13 by-a link 18. ln the normal vde-energized position of' the tripping magnet 7, a pivot pin 19, connecting the armature 16 and 'the link 18, is coaxially related to the pivot pin 10 rbut is not attached theret'o. When the latch 13 is in holding relation to the t-oggle link 8 and the Operating' lever 11, these three parts will all move around the 'pin 10, and, therefore, the link 18 and the pivotal .connection of the link 18 with the latch 13 will also move around a centre co-axial with the pin 10 throughout the whole range of movement of the parts during the operation of' closing the interrupter.

Consequently, the pivot pin 19 will remain iii the same position relative to the latch during the closing movement.

In operation,-the parts are biased to the open position, shown in broken lines in the dra-Wing, by reason of the weight of the movable contact member 1, the link 2 and the lever 3. The Operating lever 11, the link 12 and the plun'ger or armature of the closing solenoid 6, are raised, by means vof .a

'spring 5M) to a ,'tion in which the latch 13 the pih l on the opera/ting-lever 11. When-it is desired to close-the interl'upter, the solenoid 6 may be ener ed to move the link 12 downwardly, there y causlng, by means, of the latch 13, the toggle links 8 and 9' and a portion of the main switch lever 3 to move downwal'dly to the position,f`shown in full lines, vwherein the switch is closed. the closing. movement, the spring 20, having one end attached to a stationary suport, as on the casing of the interrupter, Van its other end attached to the link 11, is put under tension, and the link 18, oonnecting the latch 13 with the armature 16 of the tripping magnet, turns on the pin 19, but the armature 16 remains in Itlethsame `tion. 7 e tl'lpping magnf et is energize when the interrupter is closed, or during any part of the cloeingl movement, the armature cause (16 will be attracted and, by=means of the link 18, the latch 13 from the pin 15, thereby disconnecting the toggle links 8 and 9 from-the Operating lever 11. If the interrupter. is then in the closed ition the lwe t of the members 1, 2 an 3 will e interrupter to open. When the interrupter i's open, the 'lever 11 is discounected from-the toggle links 8 and 9.

A latch 21 is pivoted to a fixed pin 22 and is provided with a spring 23 which causes it. to' engage a pin 24 on' the link 12,

when the letter has been moved to 'its lowest' position, in or'derthat the interrupter shall l'emain losed when the closil'lg sole'noid (i isv deener To open the interrupter, 'the latch 2 is lilanually turned against the force of the s ring 23 to release'the pin'24, whereupon, e weight of the movable parts, as-

sisted by the 20, will cause the in- 'tel'rupter to open and the toggle links 8 and 9 to the position shown inJolzoken i lines. Operating lever 11', the latch 13 and the aociated 'wal-d lnovement;

11 and parts follow in the upzafrjthe inrmpr is opeilea, by theV operation of the ping magnet 7 ,the latch 13 is disconnected m the Operating lever rmits the toggle levers .8 and 9 to aume e openpotion, as above described.

The operatinglever' 11` "and the link 12 will,-

' however, remaln in the position shown in fulllines until the latch 21. has `been rethe closing solenoid;

' anism,

' In 'F' 2, -which shows -a similar mech- 'operative pomt' vmediate lever 29, when the operating 'shown .in full lines, by en in solenoid', will turn the lever 29 which e latch 13 cmnected to the armature orj ro ".t e trippilfg magnet 7' by a thro h an o n` 25'in'the pin 10'. The g P d connection between tripping device and the latch 13 ie, this form, the fixed pivot in 10' which ls the center of movement o the toggle link 9, operatinvr level' 11 and latch 13, as above described. The operation of the device lof this modification ls similar to that of 'the mechanism above deecribed and will be understood without further description.

-Referring to F i'g. 3, an o 26 is pivoted to a fixed pivot ehaft or pln 27 and is connected, by a link 28, to the armatlll'e o'l' plungcr of tle closi solenoid 6*. An intermediate lever 29 is plvoted'coaxially with the Operating lever 26 and is provided with a projection 30 adapted to engage a roller 31 on the lever3'. Connection between the operat' lever 26 and the intermediate lever 29 18 eflected by means of a latch `32 which no a pro ectlon 33 on the intermediate lever 29. e armatura 16' of the tripping magnet 7b is oonnected a linkto a'movable bar 35 suppo by hnka 36 around t le fpivot pin 27, during the cloeing o ration o the interrupter it will be clear t at the abutting surface of the bar 35, by reason of its' curvature, is' in position to engage the latch 32, 'thr'o t .the whole range of movement of said latch, during the eloeing operation of the interrupter. The interrupter is in it closed position, as shown in full lines. The 'comlever Ill) med weight of' the movable member 1,3

link 2 and the lever 3 biases the interrupter Vto its open position, in' which the intermediate lever 29 occu iies the shown in broken lines in' e ,Theapring 20', connected .to the operatlng lever '26,

corresponds to the. spring 20 as 'shown in Fig. 1. The spring 39 caused .the latch 32 to engage the pro]ection 33 of the ilnter- .ver .26 is raised, and the latch 21 corresponds to the latch 21', as shown in Fig. 1, to perform the same functionrof holding'the interrupter in its closed position. leased; whereupon, the spring 20 will raise In operation, aulningV the interrupter to be open, the Operating lever 26 to be in its raised position and the latch 32 connecting it to the intermediate lever 29, a movement of the lever 26 'tlln c wi close thevinterrupter through the projection 30.' 'The'` lever 26 is, held, in the osition shown, by means of the late-h 21. y releasing the latch 21', thel weight of iauaatae the bridge piece 1,'and its associated parts,

will open the -interrupten-the spring .20a

causing the lever 26 to follow the opening movement. -When the tripping magnet'?b is energized, the bar 35 Will be lifted and, thus, moving away from its 'support 40, will disengage the latch`32` from the lever 29 to permit the weight of the member 1, and its associated parts, to open the interrupter. If the interrupter is in the open position, the latch 32 being disengaged, the Operating lever 26 will be disconnected from theintermediate lever 29, and the in-y for iolding said members together during a simultaneous movement thereof, of means remotely disposed with respect to said members for releasing said latching means at an position in its path of movment, and flexlo ble connecting means between said releasing and said latching means.

2; The combination with a pivoted armI having a movable latch member mounted thereon at a point removed from the pivot vthereof, and remotely disposed releasing means for said latch member, of a member connected between said latch member and said releasino' means having a portionadapted to move a ut an axis coincident With the pivotal axis of said arm.

The combination with a pivoted arm having a movable latch' member mounted thereon at a point removed from the pivot thereof, and remotely disposed releasing means for said latch member, of a pair of ,end-to-end related links connected between said latch member and said releasing means,

the point of joinder between said linlrs being 'normally on an axis coincident with, but lindependent of, the axis of said pivoted arm. 4. The combination with a 'pivoted arm having a movable latch member mounted thereon at 'a point removed from the pivot thereof, and remotely disposed releasing means for said latchmember, of a pair of.

end-to-end related links connected between said latch member' and saidpreleasiplg means, the point ef joinder between said l' s being normally on an axis coincident with, but'independent of, the axis of said pivoted arm and movable out of coincidence therewith durino' the releasing action.

5. Ian av circuit interrupter, th'e combination with two movable members and latching means co-operating 'therebetween in order that said members may move together, of amagnetically actuated member for releasing said latching means at any position in its path of movement. w

6. In a circuit interrupter, thecombination with two movable members, and latchin means co-operatingv therebetween in or er that said members may move together,

and means responsive to predetermined conditions in the circuit for releasin said latch;l

ing means at any position in its Ipath of movement.

7. In a circuit interrupter, thev combination with two movable members, and latchin `means co-ope'rating therebetween inor er that said members may move together, of a magnetically actuated member connected to the latching means and adapted to release said means at any position i-n its path of movement.

8. The combination with a pivoted arm having a movable latch -member mounted thereon at a point removed from the pivot thereof, a remotely disposed releasing means for said latch member, and a member con'- nected between said latch member and said releasing means having a portion adapted to move about an axis comcident with the pivotal axis of said arm, of a second latching means adapted to normally secure the aforesaid mechanism' in its-operative position.

- .9. The combination with a pivoted armhaving a movable latch member mounted thereof, a remotely disposed releasing means forv said'latch member, and a'member' connected between said-latch member and said releasing means having a portion adapted to move about an axis comcident' with the pivotal axis ofsaid arm, of a secondvlatching thereon at a point removed fromfithe pivot means adapted to normally secure the aforesaid fmeehanism in its operative position, the actuation' of the first named latch permittin said pivoted varm, the first named latch an said connecting member to move inde- ,pendently of said second named latch.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 9th day of ber,1e19. v o

o, WILLIAM ANsELM coAirEs.

WILLIAM BooRNE DALE. 

